Hike 1: Cougar Mountain Wilderness Peak

It is 2020, and time for the 52-hike challenge to begin. It is January 1st. I am overweight, out of shape, and it is raining; let’s do this! I have water, my emergency kit, rain gear, and Dad’s favorite granola bars: Nature Valley Oats and Honey. These were a staple of his, so I thought it only fitting that they sustain me in this effort.

The first hike on the list is in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park in the Issaquah Alps, and the trail is the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail. This trail leads to the highest point on Cougar mountain, and it is named after climbing legend Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Everest, with Sherpa Nawang Gombu.

This trail does not have as many views as the other trails in the Issaquah Alps, but it is one of my favorites, nonetheless. It is not as busy as most other trails in the region, and the forest offers a lovely canopy, where verdant life thrives. 2019 was a year that saw the losses of my father and uncle to cancer, the loss of my cousin to a tragic car accident, the diagnosis of cancer to a different cousin, as well as the diagnosis of kidney disease to my wife; witnessing the brilliant, thriving tenacity of life, and beauty of the natural world gives me hope. The iridescent green of the moss and the ferns growing out of the trees reminds me that even in the darkest winter, life finds a way, and thrives. It is a beauty that I cannot describe sufficiently in words, and it sustains me.

Mosses and ferns on the way up to the Wilderness Peak loop

The trailhead begins with a steep incline, and the hiker follows a little creek up the mountain via a series of switchbacks, and bridges. After the last bridge, the trail splits into a loop, with the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trail in the west, and the Nawang Gombu Wilderness Cliffs trail in the east. I chose to go west to resume my climb. After a short ascent, I was surprised by the existence of wetlands, high up on the trail. This swamp appears to be where the little creek originates, as the current slowly meanders back the way I came.

After making my way across the boardwalk, the final ascent begins. This last leg is a steep series of switchbacks that ends in a junction between Longview Lookout, and the summit of Cougar Mountain. Before summiting, I took a short half-mile trail to Longview, for a view to the south, where I could see the East Renton Highlands, and (at least I choose to believe) my neighborhood!

View of East Renton Highlands from Longview Peak

The summit up to the peak was another brief incline, ending in a lush forest. No views from the top of Cougar Mountain, but there was a bench there, dedicated to Mitsuo and Kimiko Mukai, a Japanese-American couple who weathered the American internment camps of World War 2. The phrase “Follow the Path to Bushido” is a perfect message for the first hike of this fight against cancer. In Japanese, “Bushido” translates as “The Way of the Warrior.”

Memorial bench to Mitsuo and Kimiko Mukai at the summit

In the clouds at the top of Cougar Mountain

Coming down from the peak, I chose the alternative “Gombu Wilderness Cliffs” route. The steepness of the trail creates the illusion that you are walking through the branches of the trees.

In this hike, I learned that hiking poles are a game-changer for both ascents and descents, and that you can’t put a price on good fitting hiking boots, and light, flexible hiking pants. The emergency kit and water in my backpack give me the peace of mind to enjoy the outdoors without worry. My muscles are aching, but my joints and feet are great! I’d like to think that my dad would be proud of me, for being so prepared; it’s a far cry from wandering out into the Cascades without a camping permit, and a broken water purifier…but that is a different story for another time. I look forward to the next hike, and I will be sure to pack plenty of Oats and Honey bars. I miss you, Dad.